Changes

==Origin==

==Origin==

[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English], from Anglo-French, from ''hoste''

[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English], from Anglo-French, from ''hoste''

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13th_century 13th Century]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13th_century 13th Century]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1a :  a [[person]] held by one party in a [[conflict]] as a pledge pending the fulfillment of an [[agreement]]

*1a :  a [[person]] held by one party in a [[conflict]] as a pledge pending the fulfillment of an [[agreement]]

A person who seizes one or more hostages is known as a hostage-taker; if the hostages are present voluntarily, then the receiver is known as a [[host]].

A person who seizes one or more hostages is known as a hostage-taker; if the hostages are present voluntarily, then the receiver is known as a [[host]].

Taking hostages is today considered a [[crime]] or an act of [[terrorism]]; the use of the word in this sense of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidnapping abductee] became current only in the 1970s. The criminal activity is known as [[kidnapping]]. An acute situation where hostages are kept in a building or a vehicle that has been taken over by armed terrorists or common criminals is often called a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hostage_crisis hostage crisis].

Taking hostages is today considered a [[crime]] or an act of [[terrorism]]; the use of the word in this sense of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidnapping abductee] became current only in the 1970s. The criminal activity is known as [[kidnapping]]. An acute situation where hostages are kept in a building or a vehicle that has been taken over by armed terrorists or common criminals is often called a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hostage_crisis hostage crisis].

The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Convention_against_the_Taking_of_Hostages International Convention against the Taking of Hostages]—which prohibits hostage taking and [[mandates]] the punishment of hostage takers—was adopted by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_General_Assembly United Nations General Assembly] in 1979. The treaty came into force in 1983 and has been ratified by all but 24 of the member states of the United Nations.

The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Convention_against_the_Taking_of_Hostages International Convention against the Taking of Hostages]—which prohibits hostage taking and [[mandates]] the punishment of hostage takers—was adopted by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_General_Assembly United Nations General Assembly] in 1979. The treaty came into force in 1983 and has been ratified by all but 24 of the member states of the United Nations.

Hostage taking is still often politically [[motivated]] or intended to raise a ransom or to enforce an exchange against other hostages or even condemned convicts. However in some countries hostage taking for [[profit]] has become an "industry", ransom often being the only demand.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hostage]

Hostage taking is still often politically [[motivated]] or intended to raise a ransom or to enforce an exchange against other hostages or even condemned convicts. However in some countries hostage taking for [[profit]] has become an "industry", ransom often being the only demand.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hostage]

==See also==

==See also==

*'''''[[Kidnapping]]'''''

*'''''[[Kidnapping]]'''''

[[Category: Law]]

[[Category: Law]]